Mrs. Donna Stevens

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE GIRLS’ SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION (GSA)

In this episode, we featured Mrs. Donna Stevens, Chief Executive of the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA), which represents the heads of over one hundred allgirls’ schools across the UK. Donna, who joined the GSA in 2021, shared details of her background, the GSA’s ethos and legacy, and how the GSA continues to advocate for girls’ education both nationally and internationally.

Donna Stevens’ path to the GSA was far from conventional. “I did a Maths degree at Oxford and got swept into the City of London as a new graduate in 2002, initially working in financial services and then into more general management consultancy.” she shared. After nearly a decade, she transitioned into roles that better aligned with her passions. She explained: “I worked for a few smaller startups, charities to begin with, then on to the Independent Schools Council and more recently to the Girls’ Schools Association.” finance, engineering and maledominated sports. She added:

“We lobby the government on areas that disproportionately impact girls.” ensuring that their ethos remains relevant in modern society.

Donna is passionate about the benefits of single-sex education, citing compelling research to support her views. “Girls in girls’ schools do better academically. Official Department for Education data shows that girls in girls’ schools are nearly three times as likely to do Maths at A Level compared to co-ed schools, and twice as likely to do Physics, Computer Science and other sciences.” she explained. The benefits extend beyond academics, too: “Girls in girls’ schools are more likely to stay engaged with sport for longer.”

The GSA was founded 150 years ago as part of a broader movement for equal education for girls. Its origins were rooted in advocacy, with leaders like Beatrice Sparks, the first woman to study Maths at Oxford, and Harriet Jones, who lobbied to remove compulsory needlework from girls’ education to allow them to study maths and Science. “Those campaigning roots run deep today.” Donna attested. The GSA continues this legacy through events designed to empower girls in areas where they are underrepresented, such as

Additional research highlights that girls in singlesex schools are more confident, emotionally intelligent and motivated, with higher levels of metacognition and wellbeing. Donna summarised: “Ultimately, society isn’t equal, but our schools help to create a fairer society by empowering girls to enter these more male-dominated spaces.”

Expanding on the issue of sport and wellbeing, Donna emphasised the role of single-sex schools in addressing the challenges girls face during puberty. “Generally, nationally, there’s a huge problem for girls and sport, and dropping out around puberty, but not in a girls’ school.” she asserted. This focus ensures that girls maintain not only their physical fitness but also their confidence and resilience through continued participation in sports.

The GSA’s reach extends far beyond the UK, collaborating with organisations like the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools and the South African Girls’ Schools Association. Donna recalled: “A couple of summers ago, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Asia-Pacific Summit on Girls’ Education. [...] It was a forty-eight-hour trip to Tasmania. I spent longer travelling there and back than I was there! But it was so important to be connected with colleagues across the globe.” Sharing ideas internationally allows the GSA to develop solutions that are not only impactful locally but also resonate with the global challenges faced by girls.

The GSA’s foundation in collaboration dates back to its origins, when two headmistresses decided to bring their peers together to share best practices. “Now, we have the beauty of sharing and collaborating globally.” she added, underscoring the importance of learning from international peers to advance girls’ education worldwide.

The GSA actively contributes to the body of research on girls’ education. Its most recent study, Investigating the Role of Girls-Only Schools in Preparing Students for Their Future Endeavours, gathered over 8,000 responses from students, parents, teachers and alumni. Donna explained: “Our teachers spoke frequently about being able to tailor their lessons to the needs of girls and the ability to inspire them with female role models.” The findings also revealed the impact of single-sex education on confidence, academic excellence and financial literacy. “We wanted to use the research to ask what more we can do, because as a sector, we’ve not stood still over 150 years and we’ve still got work to do.” she stated.

Donna highlighted the value of parental and alumni input in shaping the GSA’s future priorities, too. Parents spoke of the “academic excellence” and “confidence” their daughters gained, and alumni reflected on how their education at an all-girls’ school “shaped their life path.” The study also pointed to social media as an issue disproportionately affecting girls, an area the GSA plans to address through targeted initiatives focused on “the girls’ lens.”

Diversity and inclusion are central to the GSA’s ethos, reflected in its schools’ annual expenditure of over £146 million on bursaries and scholarships. “It’s really important that cost isn’t a barrier.” Donna asserted. These programmes benefit not only the recipients but also the wider school community by fostering interactions among students from diverse backgrounds. Donna also pointed to partnerships with other schools and organisations, which enhance mutual learning and extend the GSA’s influence in shaping inclusive educational practices.

The introduction of VAT on school fees presents a significant challenge for the independent education sector, particularly for all-girls’ schools. “Girls’ schools are more prevalent in the independent sector, so any policy that disproportionately affects independent schools will therefore disproportionately affect girls’ schools.” Donna explained. The GSA is working closely with partner organisations to provide guidance and resources for schools navigating this change. She noted: “We’re also involved in a legal challenge with the Independent Schools Council, but obviously I can’t talk any more about that.” Donna expressed concern that the policy could limit educational choices, representing a setback for equality.

Looking ahead, Donna is committed to continuing the GSA’s mission of empowering girls.

“We recently produced a film celebrating our 150 years and documenting our journey, and it’s clear we still have work to do,” she shared. One area of focus is curriculum reform, particularly in addressing the gender imbalance in subjects like History. Donna observed: “At GCSE and A Level, women’s historical significance is often absent” or feels like an add-on. This lack of representation extends beyond the UK, with even greater challenges for girls’ education globally, “where things look even worse for girls in some areas.”

Reflecting on Meryl Streep’s recent comments at the UN about the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan, Donna emphasised the scale of the work ahead: “There’s a lot of work to do, and we’ll continue on that journey until it’s done.” www.gsa.uk.com

We would like to thank Mrs. Donna Stevens, Chief Executive of the Girls’ Schools Association, for giving up her time to speak to us.